Review by: The Auditor
Review #1088; Rum #415
This sample was provided to me by a producer, distributor, or some other industry source free-of-charge. No compensation, outside of the sample, was received and there were no strings attached. You can read our full statement of Ethics & Transparency at this link.
This is a rum from Ecuador that produced in the city of Jipijapa, in the Manabí province, from a variety of sugar cane that is commonly called Cubana Negra. This bottling was done to celebrate 60 years of the 3 generations producing this rum with La Maison and Velier. El Amparo is produced using fresh pressed cane juice. That juice is crushed and fermented by indigenous yeasts in vats of 1,000 to 3,000 liters for 5 to 7 days. Distillation is carried out on a 500 liter copper batch still which has a small pot and short column. It is distilled once and this batch has been bottled at still proof with no additives.
Distillery: El Amparo
Bottler: La Maison & Velier
Region: Ecuador
Still: Pot still
ABV: 57.5%. Still Strength
Nose: Pungent, Lemon Grass, Brine, a hint of chlorine, Minerality, Apple, Olives, Allspice, Plastic
Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Brine, Olives, Beef Bouillon, Coriander, Minerality, Lemongrass, Touch of plastic bag, campfire.
Finish: Long finish, Olives, Beef Bouillon, Coriander, Minerality, Lemongrass, Allspice, Chlorine, campfire smoke.
Conclusion: This is an excellent rum. It has a ton going on leaning heavily on the savory elements with some rough edges. This faint plastic industrial note lingers around and makes it stick in your head. A very light campfire smoke seems to form a backbone on the finish as well for me. This is one of those weird cane juice rums, but also strangely balanced for me.
Final Score: 91
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 